Written Answers Wednesday 8 June 2005

Scottish Executive

Air Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, and what discussions it has had, regarding the introduction of direct flights between Edinburgh and Munich.

Nicol Stephen: Discussions have been held with airlines on the new direct air routes which could be supported by the Route Development Fund – this has included a potential connection between Scotland and Munich. The Executive will consider any approach by an airline to commence services to Munich or other destinations which will improve business links and encourage inbound tourism, and which meets the fund’s criteria. The detail of any discussions is commercially confidential.

Apprenticeships

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current throughput of modern apprenticeships is (a) in total and (b) broken down by (i) area and (ii) subject.

Allan Wilson: The current completion rate for modern apprentices is 55% and since their inception in 1995, more than 34,500 have successfully completed their training. As for the breakdown by area and subject, this is an operational matter for the enterprise networks. The information is not held centrally.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the (a) numbers and (b) unemployment rates of female claimants in each ward of Dundee City Council in the latest month for which figures are available, using claimant count as the basis for such calculations.

Mr Jim Wallace: Table 1 contains the claimant count unemployment number and claimant count unemployment rate for female claimants in each ward of Dundee City Council in April 2005.

  Table 1 Female Claimant Count Unemployment Number and Rate1 for Wards2 in Dundee City Council, April 2005

  

 
 Claimant Count
Claimant Count Rate


 Wellgate
 39
 3.1%


 Baxter Park
 34
 2.9%


 Craigie Bank
 12
 1.3%


 Craigie Barns
 15
 1.7%


 West Ferry
 13
 1.4%


 Broughty Ferry
 7
 0.8%


 Balgillo
 7
 0.5%


 Eastern
 11
 0.9%


 Douglas
 29
 3.7%


 Drumgeith
 13
 1.8%


 Longhaugh
 17
 2.9%


 Whitfield
 17
 1.7%


 Fintry North
 18
 1.8%


 Fintry South
 24
 2.0%


 Caird
 30
 3.7%


 Midmill
 38
 6.5%


 Clepington
 16
 2.0%


 Maryfield
 38
 3.3%


 Coldside
 43
 5.3%


 Hilltown
 44
 5.3%


 Central
 24
 2.2%


 Riverside
 17
 1.6%


 Dudhope
 30
 3.3%


 Logie
 7
 0.7%


 Law
 14
 1.3%


 Ancrum
 13
 1.1%


 St Ninians
 20
 1.9%


 Menzieshill
 19
 1.7%


 Gourdie
 21
 2.7%


 Pitalpin
 16
 1.5%


 Lochee West
 32
 3.9%


 Lochee East
 12
 1.6%


 Rockwell
 12
 1.3%


 Fairmuir
 11
 1.0%


 Trottick
 38
 4.5%


 Gillburn
 17
 1.6%


 Downfield
 14
 1.0%


 St Mary's
 30
 3.2%


 Ardler
 9
 1.4%


 Blackshade
 5
 0.6%



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Rates for wards are calculated using the claimant count unemployment level as the numerator, and a measure of economically active residents as the denominator.

  2. 1991 frozen wards.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the (a) numbers and (b) unemployment rates of female claimants in each ward of Angus Council in the latest month for which figures are available, using claimant count as the basis for such calculations.

Mr Jim Wallace: Table 1 contains the claimant count unemployment number and claimant count unemployment rate for female claimants in each ward of Angus Council in April 2005.

  Table 1 Female Claimant Count Unemployment Number and Rate1 for Wards2 in Angus Council, April 2005

  

 
 Claimant Count
 Claimant Count Rate


 Harbour
 41
 3.9%


 Brothock
 50
 3.6%


 Timmergreens and Elms
 23
 2.0%


 Arbirlot and Hospitalfield
 12
 1.0%


 Marywell and Cliffburn
 19
 1.8%


 Colliston and Hayshead
 29
 2.3%


 Carnoustie East
 10
 0.6%


 Carnoustie West
 18
 1.1%


 Forfar Central and Lemno
 19
 1.5%


 Dunnichen
 17
 1.1%


 Montrose North
 18
 1.6%


 Hillside
 14
 1.0%


 Kirriemuir
 31
 2.1%


 Western Glens
 7
 1.2%


 Eastern Glens
 6
 1.8%


 Langlands
 23
 1.9%


 Westfield and Dean
 16
 1.1%


 Montrose South
 50
 4.3%


 Lunan
 18
 1.4%


 Brechin North
 16
 1.3%


 Brechin South
 33
 3.0%


 Monifieth West
 8
 0.6%


 Monifieth East
 16
 1.0%


 Sidlaw
 14
 0.9%



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Rates for wards are calculated using the claimant count unemployment level as the numerator, and a measure of economically active residents as the denominator.

  2. 1991 frozen wards.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the (a) numbers and (b) unemployment rates of claimants in each ward of Aberdeenshire Council in the latest month for which figures are available, using claimant count as the basis for such calculations.

Mr Jim Wallace: Table 1 contains the claimant count unemployment number and claimant count unemployment rate for each ward of Aberdeenshire Council in April 2005.

  Table 1 Claimant Count Unemployment Number and Rate1 for Wards2 in Aberdeenshire Council, April 2005

  

 
 Claimant Count
 Claimant Count Rate


 Macduff-Gardenstown
 52
 2.2%


 Aberchirder-King Edward
 53
 2.0%


 Banff-Hilton
 74
 3.1%


 Fordyce-Boyndie
 29
 1.4%


 Turriff
 30
 1.0%


 Upper Ythan
 39
 1.6%


 Central Buchan
 45
 1.9%


 Deer
 35
 1.2%


 Meethill-Glendaveny
 60
 1.7%


 Clerkhill
 39
 1.6%


 Kirktown-Roanheads
 129
 5.9%


 Buchanhaven-Catto
 77
 3.4%


 Fraserburgh East
 49
 2.2%


 Fraserburgh West
 62
 3.2%


 Buchan North East
 27
 1.1%


 Buchan North
 54
 1.5%


 Cruden-Boddam
 54
 1.9%


 Longside-Rattray
 29
 1.3%


 Huntly
 44
 2.0%


 Strathbogie
 43
 2.2%


 Upper Donside
 26
 1.0%


 Lower Donside
 34
 1.2%


 Echt and Skene
 22
 0.7%


 Westhill
 21
 0.7%


 Newmachar and Kinellar
 21
 0.9%


 Kintore
 25
 1.0%


 South Inverurie
 23
 1.1%


 North Inverurie
 30
 1.1%


 West Garioch
 36
 1.1%


 East Garioch
 33
 1.1%


 Ythan
 34
 1.1%


 Ellon
 16
 0.7%


 North Formartine
 32
 1.1%


 South Formartine
 13
 0.7%


 Upper Deeside
 11
 0.7%


 Mid Deeside
 19
 1.0%


 Aboyne and Cromar
 19
 1.0%


 Banchory
 14
 0.5%


 Feughdee
 17
 0.7%


 Lower Deeside
 47
 1.3%


 Newtonbervie
 41
 1.1%


 Inverbervie and Johnshaven
 32
 1.8%


 Mearns South and St Cyrus
 41
 2.4%


 Mearns West and Marykirk
 43
 2.1%


 Stonehaven North
 43
 1.5%


 Kinneff and Stonehaven South
 20
 0.7%



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Rates for wards are calculated using the claimant count unemployment level as the numerator, and a measure of economically active residents as the denominator.

  2. 1991 frozen wards.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the (a) numbers and (b) unemployment rates of female claimants in each ward of Aberdeenshire Council in the latest month for which figures are available, using claimant count as the basis for such calculations.

Mr Jim Wallace: Table 1 contains the claimant count unemployment number and claimant count unemployment rate for female claimants in each ward of Aberdeenshire Council in April 2005.

  Table 1 Female Claimant Count Unemployment Number and Rate1 for Wards2 in Aberdeenshire Council, April 2005

  

 
 Claimant Count
 Claimant Count Rate


 Macduff-Gardenstown
 13
 1.3%


 Aberchirder-King Edward
 15
 1.4%


 Banff-Hilton
 24
 2.1%


 Fordyce-Boyndie
 8
 0.9%


 Turriff
 9
 0.7%


 Upper Ythan
 15
 1.5%


 Central Buchan
 12
 1.2%


 Deer
 14
 1.1%


 Meethill-Glendaveny
 19
 1.2%


 Clerkhill
 8
 0.8%


 Kirktown-Roanheads
 38
 4.3%


 Buchanhaven-Catto
 21
 2.1%


 Fraserburgh East
 14
 1.4%


 Fraserburgh West
 22
 2.7%


 Buchan North East
 11
 1.1%


 Buchan North
 20
 1.3%


 Cruden-Boddam
 20
 1.8%


 Longside-Rattray
 9
 1.0%


 Huntly
 14
 1.5%


 Strathbogie
 13
 1.6%


 Upper Donside
 11
 1.1%


 Lower Donside
 11
 0.8%


 Echt and Skene
 7
 0.5%


 Westhill
 4
 0.3%


 Newmachar and Kinellar
 6
 0.5%


 Kintore
 7
 0.6%


 South Inverurie
 6
 0.6%


 North Inverurie
 6
 0.5%


 West Garioch
 10
 0.7%


 East Garioch
 7
 0.5%


 Ythan
 13
 0.8%


 Ellon
 4
 0.3%


 North Formartine
 10
 0.7%


 South Formartine
 5
 0.6%


 Upper Deeside
 5
 0.7%


 Mid Deeside
 4
 0.5%


 Aboyne and Cromar
 3
 0.4%


 Banchory
 4
 0.3%


 Feughdee
 5
 0.5%


 Lower Deeside
 11
 0.6%


 Newtonbervie
 11
 0.7%


 Inverbervie and Johnshaven
 10
 1.3%


 Mearns South and St Cyrus
 14
 1.8%


 Mearns West and Marykirk
 15
 1.9%


 Stonehaven North
 9
 0.7%


 Kinneff and Stonehaven South
 4
 0.3%



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Rates for wards are calculated using the claimant count unemployment level as the numerator, and a measure of economically active residents as the denominator.

  2. 1991 frozen wards.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the (a) numbers and (b) unemployment rates of claimants in each ward of Angus Council in the latest month for which figures are available, using claimant count as the basis for such calculations.

Mr Jim Wallace: Table 1 contains the claimant count unemployment number and claimant count unemployment rate for each ward of Angus Council in April 2005.

  Table 1 Claimant Count Unemployment Number and Rate1 for Wards2 in Angus Council, April 2005

  

 
 Claimant Count
 Claimant Count Rate


 Harbour
 186
 8.9%


 Brothock
 172
 6.0%


 Timmergreens and Elms
 76
 3.2%


 Arbirlot and Hospitalfield
 37
 1.5%


 Marywell and Cliffburn
 80
 3.7%


 Colliston and Hayshead
 90
 3.1%


 Carnoustie East
 51
 1.4%


 Carnoustie West
 84
 2.5%


 Forfar Central and Lemno
 58
 2.2%


 Dunnichen
 76
 2.3%


 Montrose North
 82
 3.5%


 Hillside
 80
 2.8%


 Kirriemuir
 82
 2.8%


 Western Glens
 20
 1.5%


 Eastern Glens
 13
 1.7%


 Langlands
 89
 3.6%


 Westfield and Dean
 48
 1.6%


 Montrose South
 183
 7.8%


 Lunan
 63
 2.3%


 Brechin North
 60
 2.2%


 Brechin South
 141
 6.1%


 Monifieth West
 39
 1.4%


 Monifieth East
 45
 1.5%


 Sidlaw
 49
 1.6%



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Rates for wards are calculated using the claimant count unemployment level as the numerator, and a measure of economically active residents as the denominator.

  2. 1991 frozen wards.

Enterprise

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take in view of the decision by Strand Lighting to end production at its Kirkcaldy factory.

Mr Jim Wallace: I very much regret the news that Strand Lighting has entered into a period of consultation with a view to closing its facility in Kirkcaldy which employs nearly 90 people. Scottish Enterprise Fife has a track record of working very closely with the company and has provided assistance in an attempt to avoid this outcome.

  Scottish Enterprise Fife will continue to work closely with the company during the consultation period. Should the closure go ahead, the first priority will be to support the employees faced with losing their jobs. Strong partnerships exist between local enterprise companies, local authorities, JobCentre Plus and Careers Scotland. These partners have considerable experience in responding to redundancy situations and can offer advice, support and guidance on retraining, upskilling and employment opportunities.

Enterprise

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect globalscot has had on the global connectivity of Scottish business.

Mr Jim Wallace: Since its launch in March 2002, the globalscot initiative has grown to an active network of over 800 international business people who have links to Scotland and want to contribute to its economic development. Approaching half of the members are based in the USA with around 40% in Europe and 10% in Asia.

  In the last year globalscot recorded over 500 contributions by members, 300 of which involved direct assistance to Scottish organisations and individuals. Examples of support include meeting and advising Scottish businesses when they visit new markets; taking up appointments as directors with start-up companies, and participating in Enterprise in Education programmes as role models for school pupils and students.

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any evaluation has been, or is being, made of the environmental impact of measures taken to control the suspected case of infectious salmon anaemia in Loch Sheilavaig.

Lewis Macdonald: The control measures in question were designed to prevent environmental impact. These controls were properly implemented under the supervision of the Fisheries Research Services. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the local authority environmental health department were consulted with regard to the burial site of culled stock.

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is confident that infectious salmon anaemia has been eradicated from Loch Sheilavaig.

Lewis Macdonald: Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) was never confirmed at Loch Sheilavaig. Following the implementation of control measures on suspicion of the disease, veterinary surveillance by the Fisheries Research Services did not reveal any evidence of the presence of ISA virus.

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures were taken to control the suspected outbreak of infectious salmon anaemia in Loch Sheilavaig.

Lewis Macdonald: Control measures involved restricting movement of stock and equipment capable of spreading infectious salmon anaemia virus; harvesting and processing of stock under biosecure conditions, and voluntary culling of stock, ensiling in acid to inactivate any virus present and disposal by burial at an approved site.

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any compensation will be payable by it to Marine Harvest in respect of measures taken to control the suspected case of infectious salmon anaemia in Loch Sheilavaig.

Lewis Macdonald: Compensation is not available in respect of fish disease controls.

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to trace the origins of the suspected incidence of infectious salmon anaemia in Loch Sheilavaig.

Lewis Macdonald: Infectious salmon anaemia was never confirmed at Loch Sheilavaig. The results of an investigation into matters, including why the presence of the disease was suspected, are expected by the end of this month.

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmed fish are known to have escaped into Scottish waters in each year since 1999.

Lewis Macdonald: The number of reported escapes from Scottish fish farms in each year since 1999 has been; 273,863 (1999), 501,981 (2000), 94,010 (2001), 449,805 (2002), 161,022 (2003), 92,647 (2004). Statutory reporting of escapes was introduced in 2002.

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring regime will be implemented at Loch Sheilavaig to ensure that infectious salmon anaemia has been eradicated.

Lewis Macdonald: Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) was never confirmed at Loch Sheilavaig. Now that ISA controls have been lifted, veterinary surveillance in Loch Sheilavaig will revert to routine fish farm inspections with testing of samples for ISA only where stock show signs of disease.

Further and Higher Education

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Scottish graduates who graduated in each year since 1999 are still resident in Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information held by the Scottish Executive is from a survey of graduates from higher education institutions conducted around six months after their graduation. At present, the Executive does not hold data which could be used to track graduates from Scottish institutions over a longer period. A follow-up survey to take place three and a half years after graduating is planned and I would refer you to the answer to question S2W-16979 on 8 June 2005, for further information on this survey. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search

  The following tables give information on Scottish domiciled graduates in employment or undertaking further study six months after graduating. The survey does not collect location information for those not working or studying.

  Graduates in Employment

  Table 1 gives the percentages of Scottish domiciled respondents to the survey who were recorded as employed. Table 2 gives the percentages of those in table 1 who were employed in Scotland.

  Table 1: Scottish Domiciled Graduate Respondents1 from Scottish Higher Education Institutions: % Employed

  

 Year
 Total
 Postgraduate
 First Degree
 Sub Degree


 1998-99
 67%
 83%
 64%
 76%


 1999-2000
 66%
 82%
 66%
 59%


 2000-01
 68%
 86%
 65%
 74%


 2001-02
 69%
 90%
 67%
 63%


 2002-03
 71%
 86%
 68%
 68%



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Note: 1. Data relate to graduates from full-time courses.

  Table 2: Scottish Domiciled Graduate Respondents1 from Scottish Higher Education Institutions: % in Scotland of those Employed

  

 Year
 Total
 Postgraduate
 First degree
 Sub Degree


 1998-99
 84%
 86%
 83%
 94%


 1999-2000
 82%
 86%
 80%
 93%


 2000-01
 87%
 87%
 86%
 93%


 2001-02
 90%
 96%
 89%
 95%


 2002-03
 91%
 93%
 90%
 95%



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Note: 1. Data relate to graduates from full-time courses.

  Graduates Undertaking Further Study

  Table 3 gives the percentages of Scottish domiciled respondents to the survey who were recorded as undertaking further study. Table 4 gives the percentages of those in table 3 who were undertaking further study in Scotland.

  Table 3: Scottish Domiciled Graduate Respondents1 from Scottish Higher Education Institutions: % in Further Study

  

 Year
 Total
 Postgraduate
 First degree
 Sub Degree


 1998-99
 21%
 7%
 22%
 21%


 1999-2000
 21%
 8%
 20%
 37%


 2000-01
 19%
 5%
 20%
 22%


 2001-02
 19%
 4%
 19%
 32%


 2002-03
 16%
 5%
 17%
 25%



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Note: 1. Data relate to graduates from full-time courses.

  Table 4: Scottish Domiciled Graduate Respondents1 from Scottish Higher Education Institutions: % in Scotland of those in Further Study

  

 Year
 Total
 Postgraduate
 First degree
 Sub Degree


 1998-99
 86%
 74%
 85%
 99%


 1999-2000
 85%
 79%
 82%
 99%


 2000-01
 87%
 77%
 85%
 97%


 2001-02
 87%
 81%
 84%
 97%


 2002-03
 84%
 78%
 81%
 93%



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Note: 1. Data relate to graduates from full-time courses.

Further and Higher Education

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Scottish graduates who graduated in each year since 1999 are still resident and working in the United Kingdom.

Mr Jim Wallace: I refer you to the answer to question S2W-16973 for further information on the data held by the Scottish Executive on destinations of graduates. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  Table 1 gives the percentages of Scottish domiciled respondents to the survey who were recorded as employed six months after graduating. Table 2 gives the percentages of those in table 1 who were employed in Scotland or the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Table 1: Scottish Domiciled Graduate Respondents1 from Scottish Higher Education Institutions: % Employed

  

 Year
 Total
 Postgraduate
 First Degree
 Sub Degree


 1998-99
 67%
 83%
 64%
 76%


 1999-2000
 66%
 82%
 66%
 59%


 2000-01
 68%
 86%
 65%
 74%


 2001-02
 69%
 90%
 67%
 63%


 2002-03
 71%
 86%
 68%
 68%



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Note: 1. Data relate to graduates from full-time courses.

  Table 2: Scottish Domiciled Graduate Respondents1 from Scottish Higher Education Institutions: % in United Kingdom of Those Employed

  

 Year
 Total
 Postgraduate
 First Degree
 Sub Degree


 1998-99
 96%
 96%
 96%
 99%


 1999-2000
 95%
 97%
 95%
 99%


 2000-01
 97%
 97%
 96%
 99%


 2001-02
 97%
 99%
 97%
 99%


 2002-03
 97%
 98%
 97%
 99%



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Note: 1. Data relate to graduates from full-time courses.

Further and Higher Education

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many graduates who graduated in Scotland in each year since 1999 had their senior school education in the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive does not hold data which would enable it to track individual school pupils through further and higher education. The following table gives estimates of the numbers of graduates from higher education courses at Scottish higher education institutions and further education colleges who were domiciled in local authorities within the Highlands and Islands area. The most recent year for which data are currently available is 2002-03.

  Estimates of Graduates from Scottish Higher Education Institutions and Further Education Colleges by Local Authority Domicile

  

 Level and Year
 Local Authority
 Total


 Argyll and Bute
 Highland
 Moray
 Orkney
 Shetland
 Eilean Siar


 Postgraduate
 


 1998-99
 75
 145
 50
 15
 25
 30
 335


 1999-2000
 85
 185
 60
 20
 30
 25
 400


 2000-01
 80
 170
 60
 10
 20
 15
 355


 2001-02
 95
 170
 60
 10
 25
 40
 400


 2002-03
 105
 165
 60
 20
 35
 25
 405


 First Degree
 


 1998-99
 345
 685
 235
 80
 80
 130
 1,550


 1999-2000
 295
 645
 240
 60
 95
 135
 1,465


 2000-01
 310
 730
 270
 75
 70
 120
 1,575


 2001-02
 335
 730
 250
 65
 85
 115
 1,575


 2002-03
 330
 695
 265
 75
 60
 130
 1,555


 Sub Degree1
 


 1998-99
 115
 885
 430
 100
 105
 235
 1,870


 1999-2000
 100
 980
 520
 130
 105
 175
 2,010


 2000-01
 390
 740
 480
 90
 85
 160
 1,940


 2001-02
 305
 400
 180
 80
 95
 115
 1,180


 2002-03
 295
 345
 275
 60
 60
 50
 1,085



  Sources: Higher Education Statistics Agency and Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

  Notes: Data have been rounded to the nearest five.

  1. Estimates prior to 2001/02 in the "Sub degree" category differ from those from 2001-02 onwards due to improvements in the data collection for graduates from further education colleges. However, the 2001-02 and 2002-03 figures should still be regarded as estimates rather than actual numbers.

Further and Higher Education

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the total number of graduates who graduated in Scotland in each year since 1999 had their senior school education in the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Jim Wallace: I refer you to the answer to S2W-16976 on 8 June 2005 for information on the data available. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  The following table gives the totals from the table in S2W-16976 as a percentage of all graduates with Scottish domicile and also as a percentage of all graduates of all domiciles (including other United Kingdom and overseas).

  Graduates Domiciled in Local Authority Areas Within Highlands and Islands Area as a Percentage of Scottish and all Graduates

  

 Year and level
 % of Scottish Domicile
 % of All Domiciles


 Postgraduate
 


 1998-99
 5%
 3%


 1999-00
 5%
 3%


 2000-01
 5%
 3%


 2001-02
 5%
 3%


 2002-03
 5%
 3%


 First degree
 
 


 1998-99
 9%
 6%


 1999-00
 7%
 6%


 2000-01
 8%
 6%


 2001-02
 8%
 6%


 2002-03
 8%
 6%


 Sub degree
 
 


 1998-99
 8%
 7%


 1999-00
 7%
 7%


 2000-01
 8%
 7%


 2001-02
 5%
 5%


 2002-03
 5%
 5%



  Sources: Higher Education Statistics Agency and Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

Further and Higher Education

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the movement and location of Scottish graduates.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive holds data collected from surveys conducted around six months after students graduate from higher education courses at Scottish higher education institutions and further education colleges. The survey of graduates from higher education institutions, which is carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency, gives data on the location of employment for those graduates who are employed at that point. If the graduate has gone on to further study, the name of the institution at which they are studying is collected. Although not all graduates respond, response rates are high, typically 70 to 80 percent, so this survey gives valuable information on the movement of graduates soon after they graduate.

  I would refer you to the answer to question S2W-16979 on 8 June 2005 for information on the planned follow up to this survey. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search

  For higher education graduates from colleges the Scottish Further Education Funding Council collects information on whether the any employment is in Scotland or elsewhere.

  In addition, the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which is carried out by the Office for National Statistics, can be used to monitor the movement and location of graduates. The LFS questionnaire includes a variety of questions on labour market activity, residency and qualifications. However, the LFS does not ask where a graduate obtained his/her degree so graduates of Scottish institutions cannot be specifically identified.

Further and Higher Education

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve its ability to monitor the movement and location of Scottish graduates.

Mr Jim Wallace: I refer you to the answer to question S2W-16978 on 8 June 2005 for information on data sources currently available. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  For graduates from higher education institutions, the Higher Education Statistics Agency is developing, in consultation with the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, a follow-up survey to be conducted three and a half years after graduation which will target a sample of graduates. The survey is still in development and is being piloted this year. If, following the pilot, the survey goes ahead, data on graduates from Scottish institutions will be available to the Executive. The target is for the survey to start collecting data on graduates from the 2002-03 cohort in 2007.

Further and Higher Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio has been of the value of student loans paid out to Scottish-domiciled students to the value of student loans repayments from Scottish-domiciled graduates in each year since student loans were introduced.

Mr Jim Wallace: The administration of student loans is within the remit of the Student Loans Company. Information on both the value of student loans paid out to Scottish-domiciled students and the value of repayments from Scottish-domiciled graduates is not held centrally by the Scottish Executive.

Further and Higher Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out, or intends to carry out, into the destinations of Scottish graduates more than one year after graduation.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive holds data collected from surveys conducted around six months after students graduate from higher education courses at Scottish higher education institutions and further education colleges. The survey to graduates from higher education institutions, which is carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), gives data on the location of employment for those graduates who are employed at that point. If the graduate has gone on to further study, the name of the institution at which they are studying is collected. Although not all graduates respond, response rates are high, typically 70 to 80 percent, so this survey gives valuable information on the movement of graduates soon after they graduate.

  HESA is developing, in consultation with the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, a follow-up to the above survey to be conducted three and a half years after graduation which will target a sample of graduates. The survey is still in development and is being piloted this year. If the pilot is successful, and the follow-up survey goes ahead, there will be data available to the Executive on graduates from Scottish institutions. The target is for the survey to start collecting data on graduates from the 2002-03 cohort in 2007.

  For higher education graduates from colleges the Scottish Further Education Funding Council collects information on whether the employment is in Scotland or elsewhere.

  In addition, the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which is carried out by the Office for National Statistics, can be used to monitor the movement and location of graduates. The LFS questionnaire includes a variety of questions on labour market activity, residency and qualifications. However, the LFS does not ask where a graduate obtained his/her degree so graduates of Scottish institutions cannot be specifically identified.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to monitor the uptake of calcium and vitamin D supplementation, particularly among women living in residential care, in light of the recommendation of Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network 71 - Management of Osteoporosis: A National Clinical Guideline that frail elderly housebound women should be offered calcium and vitamin D supplementation.

Rhona Brankin: The implementation of SIGN guidelines, which are good practice clinical guidelines rather than mandatory standards of care, is a matter for NHS boards and is not monitored directly by the Executive. NHS boards’ clinical governance committees are expected to take account of SIGN guidelines.

Health

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response will be to any concerns by patients over new arrangements for the supply of stoma appliances.

Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-16470 on 26 May 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/wa.search .

  The Health Department Letter referred to in that answer has been issued and is available on the Executive’s Scottish Health On the Web (SHOW) page: http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/publicationsindex.htm.

Health

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address any welfare concerns expressed by stoma patients.

Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-16470 on 26 May 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/wa.search .

  The Health Department Letter referred to in that answer has been issued and is available on the Executive’s Scottish Health On the Web (SHOW) page: http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/publicationsindex.htm.

International Development Fund

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the International Development Fund budget has already been spent; how much has already been earmarked for expenditure, and whether it will give a breakdown of these amounts.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive has made available an international development fund of £3 million per year from 2005-06. The funding criteria and application forms for funding from the International Development budget have recently been launched by the Scottish Executive. The deadline for receipt of completed applications is 17 June 2005. These applications will then be considered by the Scottish Executive and the recently appointed expert group before any funding commitments are made.

  The Scottish Executive has committed the following costs to tsunami reconstruction work:

  Renfrewshire Council sending environmental health officer to Sri Lanka - one off payment of £6,000

  Education Coordinator for Edinburgh Council – one post at £33,000 for 18 months

  Match funding for house building project with Fife Council (to backfill posts) - £60,000 over three years.

  There are a number of other proposals being considered, and some provisional decisions to fund activities have been made. We have committed £360,000 over three years to improve maternal health in Malawi. We have also agreed to fund an administrative resource within NIDOS for the benefit of all NGOs and we have agreed to work with VSO to help meet the costs of an extra 10 volunteers in Malawi. Costs for these have not been finalised.

  Details of expenditure will be available on the Scottish Executive website in due course.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent responsibilities in relation to judicial cooperation in criminal matters with other countries cover (a) reserved and (b) devolved matters.

Cathy Jamieson: Although the negotiation of international instruments falls within the reservation of international relations under Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998, the Scottish Executive liaises where appropriate with UK lead departments during this process. The implementation of such instruments, so far as the subject matter is devolved, is not covered by that reservation. Accordingly, the implementation of instruments dealing with judicial cooperation which relate to devolved matters of criminal law and procedure, will fall within devolved competence.

Mental Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9337 by Mr Iain Gray on 26 September 2000, what the annual spending on mental health services was in each of the last five years.

Rhona Brankin: Health boards and local authorities social work departments incur expenditure in relation to mental health.

  In terms of NHS Expenditure, mental illness is equated with the specialities of general psychiatry, adolescent psychiatry, child psychiatry and general psychiatry.

  The figures for the years up to and including 2003-04 are provided in the publication Scottish Health Service Costs for each of the years. Figures relating to expenditure by health boards are not yet available for 2004-05.

  The following table sets out net expenditure by local authority social work departments on services for adults with mental health needs.

  Table 1 – Net Expenditure on Adults with Mental Health Needs (£000)

  

 1999-2000
 29,462


 2000-01
 30,753


 2001-02
 32,508


 2002-03
 47,640


 2003-04
 63,447



  Source – as reported by councils on the statistical return Local Financial Returns for Social Work (LFR3).

  Notes:

  1. Excludes loan charges.

  2. Prior to 2002-03, the figures exclude home care.

  3. The high increase from 2002-03 to 2003-04 is attributable to Glasgow City, the council changed its accounting methodology, resulting in increased expenditure of £18 million.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to assist people with mental health problems to access employment opportunities.

Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answers to question S2W-11377 on 26 November 2004 and question S2W-13016 on 14 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to increase training opportunities for people with mental health problems to assist with access to employment.

Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-11377 on 26 November 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

NHS Waiting Times

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many operations have been cancelled for non-clinical reasons in each year from 1999 to 2005.

Mr Andy Kerr: The exact information requested is not held centrally but the recent response to question S2W-16664 on 1 June 2005, provides information that may be helpful. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Nuclear Power

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact any decision by the UK Government to build new nuclear power stations in Scotland will have on the Scottish block grant.

Allan Wilson: There are no applications for new nuclear power stations in Scotland. As nuclear power is a reserved issue, and we would expect any new nuclear power station to be built by the private sector, under current financial arrangements we would not anticipate any significant implications for the Scottish block grant if a nuclear power station were built in Scotland.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7812 by Cathy Jamieson on 19 May 2004, what the final total delegated budget has been for each prison and young offenders’ institution in each of the last three financial years and the present financial year to date and what the expenditure out-turn has been in each case.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answers to questions S1W-33583, S2W-7812 and S2W-16417 on 10 February 2003, 19 May 2004 and 24 May 2005 respectively which gave the final devolved local budgets for 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05 and final outturns for 2001-02 and 2002-03. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. Final outturns for 2003-04 are detailed as follows.

  

 
2003-04Outturn
  (£ Million)


 HM Prison Aberdeen
 6.4


 HM Prison Barlinnie
 25.5


 HM Prison Castle Huntly
 3.0


 HM Prison Cornton Vale
 9.5


 HM Prison Dumfries
 5.8


 HM Prison Edinburgh
 24.7


 HM Prison Glenochil
 19.2


 HM Prison Greenock
 7.6


 HM Prison Inverness
 4.2


 HM Prison Low Moss
 10.2


 HM Prison Open Estate
 6.1


 HM Prison Perth
 20.8


 HM Prison Peterhead
 9.0


 HM Prison Polmont
 19.6


 HM Prison Shotts 
 17.2



  Outturn figures for 2004-05 are not yet available.

Public Transport

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives are available to support the purchase by public transport operators of training systems that can improve vehicle driver performance in respect of fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.

Nicol Stephen: Whilst the Executive encourages public transport operators to improve the performance of their drivers in respect of fuel efficiency and passenger comfort, no specific support is provided by the Executive and the main responsibility for these matters rests with individual operators.

  The Executive supports the work that the Sector Skills Council GoSkills does to improve skills and introduce more passenger-focused training.

Quality of Life

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to raise the personal aspirations of the people of Scotland.

Ms Margaret Curran: Raising the aspirations of all of our people is at the heart of our ambitions for Scotland. We are delivering this through a range of policies including enterprise education in schools, encouraging all of our citizens to have healthy and fulfilling lives and increasing the opportunities for all to participate in life-long learning.

Renewable Energy

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the impact of renewable energy on the Scottish economy has been measured.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Renewables Supply Chain Gap Analysis Study , published by Renewables UK in January 2004 assessed the status of the renewables industry in Scotland including its related economic impact. The study estimated the monetary value of the Scottish renewable industry output at £80 million 1 . The study also estimated that there were around 2,000 jobs 2 in Scotland associated with the renewable energy sector.

  Source: Renewables Supply Chain, Gap Analysis.

  Notes:

  1. The monetary value estimate adjusts for imports and is based on the assumption of no net cross border flows.

  2. The jobs estimate is expressed in full-time equivalents and includes induced jobs. Induced jobs are defined as jobs outside the renewable energy industry and its associated supply chain that are created because of activity in the renewable energy industry; e.g. additional jobs in retail arising from the increased economic activity.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Scottish Communities and Household Renewables Initiative funding was awarded in 2004-05 to the (a) micro hydro-electricity, (b) micro wind, (c) solar water heating, (d) solar space heating, (e) automated wood fuel heating and (f) ground, air and water-sourced heat pump sectors and how much it anticipates will be awarded in 2005-06.

Mr Jim Wallace: Information in respect of 2004-05 is given in the following table. It is not possible to predict funding in advance of grant awards being determined. We currently provide £2.2 million per annum in support of the scheme.

  

 Technology1
 Total Funding (£000)


 Micro-hydro
 3.26


 Micro-wind
 141


 Solar water heating
 215


 Solar space heating
 0.347


 Wood fuel heating
 693


 Heat pump (air, water and ground)
 576


 Solar air/solar water
 24


 Solar hot water/Ground Source Heat Pump
 43


 Total
 1,696



  Source: Information provided by Energy Saving Trust and Highland and Islands Enterprise.

  Note: 1. Projects involving multiple technologies are listed separately in the table above.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to support the development of the biomass heating industry and how successful these measures have been.

Mr Jim Wallace: The UK Government is currently considering whether measures are needed to support the biomass heat sector. My officials are keeping in close touch with that work as it progresses. When the results become available, expected towards the end of this year, the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) will reconvene its Biomass Energy Group to consider whether further action needs to be taken specifically in Scotland.

  At present, through our Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative, we are providing advisory and grant support for the installation of small scale biomass technologies. Since the scheme’s establishment at the end of 2002, funding has been awarded to 58 biomass projects, including small scale heat projects.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote the installation of a biomass pelleting plant.

Mr Jim Wallace: No specific steps are being taken. Following the publication of the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland’s (FREDS) report into the future of the biomass industry in Scotland, we are working with the enterprise networks and others to consider how best we might support biomass supply chain innovation and development.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses built in each of the last five years received Scottish Communities and Household Renewables Initiative funding.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) commenced at the end of 2002-03. Funding is separated into two streams: a householder stream and a communities stream. Since the introduction of the scheme, grant funding has been awarded to 132 new-build domestic projects under the community stream, e.g. awards to local authority sponsored projects. Information on whether technologies installed under the householder stream are in new-build households is not recorded.

Speech and Language Therapy

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times for speech and language therapy for (a) children and (b) adults are currently in each NHS board area and have been in each of the last three years.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.

  The level of service, to meet the needs of their population, is determined at health board level.

Student Loans

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has paid in subsidies for student loans sold in 1998 and 1999 in each year since 1998.

Mr Jim Wallace: Debt Sale subsidy payments to 2003-04 in respect of student loans total £62,527,000. This is broken down on a year by year basis as follows:

  

 Year
 Amount (£000)


 1998-99
 6,437


 1999-2000
 12,209


 2000-01
 14,840


 2001-02
 11,344


 2002-03
 10,645


 2003-04
 7,052

Student Loans

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value is of all student loans to Scottish-domiciled students that have been written off.

Mr Jim Wallace: The administration of student loans is within the remit of the Student Loans Company. Information on the total value of all student loans to Scottish-domiciled graduates that have been written off is not held centrally by the Scottish Executive.

Tourism

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether visitscotland.com has experienced any recent online booking problems and, if so, what they were, when they will be rectified and what the estimated cost of such problems has been to the tourist industry.

Patricia Ferguson: Visitors to the visitscotland.com website were given incorrect information when trying to book accommodation in the holiday home and caravan site sector between 27 and 30 May. Due to a technical error, a number of the establishments in this part of the website were mistakenly shown as being fully booked. Once identified, the problem was dealt with as a matter of urgency and quickly rectified. The number of businesses affected and the cost to them of any missed bookings over the few days during which the problem existed is not known.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliamentary Allowances

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many MSPs have used public money through the Edinburgh accommodation allowance to purchase privately property in Edinburgh since 1999.

Duncan McNeil (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): The Allowances Schemes approved by the Parliament, the most recent of which was approved on 21 June 2001, made provision for the payment of interest due on capital borrowed by a member in order to purchase a property in accordance with the scheme. It is not an allowance to purchase the property. There is an annual rate up to which a member may claim and, like other allowances, must be claimed and vouched.

  The total number of members who have made a claim against this allowance to meet interest payment on borrowed capital is 48.

Parliamentary Allowances

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it was originally envisaged that MSPs could access the Edinburgh accommodation allowance to facilitate the purchase of private property for themselves.

Duncan McNeil (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): Yes. The Allowances Schemes made provision for qualifying members to claim, (a) rent payable for accommodation, (b) overnight hotel costs or, (c) the interest on capital borrowed to purchase a property, all within the prescribed financed limits.

Parliamentary Allowances

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what assessment it has made of the personal financial gain to MSPs who have (a) used the Edinburgh accommodation allowance to facilitate the purchase of private properties before selling them on at a higher price or (b) borrowed on the basis of a value significantly increased from the time of original purchase of private property using the Edinburgh accommodation allowance.

Duncan McNeil (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): In answer to (a), none. This is personal information which the Allowances Office does not require to have to administer the Allowances Scheme as approved by the Parliament.

  In answer to (b), the Allowances Office checks annually the mortgage statement of accounts for each member who claims. The scheme only allows for payment of interest on capital borrowed to purchase a property. An extension of mortgage beyond the capital borrowed to purchase the property would not qualify for interest payments under the Allowances Scheme.

Parliamentary Allowances

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the average price paid by MSPs who used allowances to purchase property has been and what information it has on how much each property is now worth.

Duncan McNeil (Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): As the SPCB does not hold all information on the prices paid by the 48 MSPs who used allowances to pay interest on property purchased, it cannot supply an average price.

  The SPCB does not hold information on how much each property is now worth.